US2012198862A1PendingUtilityA1

Counter-top produce refrigeration and ozonation system and method

37
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 25, 2011Filed: Feb 7, 2012Published: Aug 9, 2012
Est. expiryJan 25, 2031(~4.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Vincent Arrigo
A23B 7/148F25D 2317/0416F24F 8/98F24F 5/0042F25D 17/042
37
PatentIndex Score
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Cited by
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Claims

Abstract

A produce storage chamber comprising a chamber capable of encasing produce, a refrigeration system, at least one ozone generation units, and at least one ethylene scrubbers. The chamber is capable of delaying postharvest produce deterioration using at least one of temperature control, ozone generation, and ethylene scrubbing.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . A portable produce chamber of a sufficient size and dimension to fit on a kitchen counter top surface, comprising:
 An outer shell that substantially defines the size and shape of the produce chamber;   an inner chamber within the outer shell, the inner chamber being of a sufficient size and dimension for the storage of produce;   a refrigeration system separated from the inner chamber by an isolation plate;   at least one ozone generation unit;   at least one ethylene scrubber; and   a means with the chamber for controlling temperature, ozone levels, and ethylene levels so to delay postharvest produce deterioration.   
     
     
         2 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising means to stack a portable produce chambers on another portable produce chamber having a substantially similar construction. 
     
     
         3 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the produce chamber is a first produce chamber having a size and dimension to be stacked on a second produce chamber, the second produce chamber having substantially the same size and dimension as the first produce chamber. 
     
     
         4 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ethylene scrubber comprises potassium permanganate. 
     
     
         5 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein at least one ethylene scrubber comprises a titanium oxide photocatalyst. 
     
     
         6 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone generator is a high frequency coronal discharge ozone generator. 
     
     
         7 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone generator generates ozone with ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         8 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigeration system maintains chamber temperature from approximately 10° C. to 20° C. 
     
     
         9 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , the refrigeration system maintains chamber temperature from approximately 12° C. to 14° C. 
     
     
         10 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone generator maintains the chamber ozone concentration from approximately 0.05 ppm to 0.1 ppm. 
     
     
         11 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the ozone generator maintains the chamber ozone concentration from approximately 0.075 ppm to 0.095 ppm. 
     
     
         12 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein chamber relative humidity is maintained from approximately 80% to 100%. 
     
     
         13 . The produce chamber of  claim 1 , wherein chamber ethylene concentration is maintained at less than 0.015 ppm. 
     
     
         14 . A portable produce chamber comprising:
 a housing having a size and dimension to fit on a kitchen countertop, the housing comprising an interior chamber capable of encasing produce;   at least one ethylene scrubbers within the interior chamber capable of reducing chamber ethylene gas concentrations from the interior chamber to delay postharvest produce deterioration;   a refrigeration system in communication with the interior chamber for the purpose of maintaining an chamber temperature that delays postharvest produce deterioration and for the purpose of maintaining a relative humidity in the interior chamber that delays postharvest produce deterioration;   an isolation plate to separate components of the refrigeration system from the interior chamber; and   an ozone generator in communication with the interior chamber for the purpose of maintaining a chamber ozone concentration that delays postharvest produce deterioration.   
     
     
         15 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein at least one ethylene scrubber comprises potassium permanganate. 
     
     
         16 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein at least one ethylene scrubber comprises a titanium oxide photocatalyst. 
     
     
         17 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the ozone generator is a high frequency corona discharge ozone generator. 
     
     
         18 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the ozone generator generates ozone with ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         19 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the refrigeration system maintains chamber temperature from approximately 10° C. to 20° C. 
     
     
         20 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein chamber temperature is maintained from 12° C. to 14° C. 
     
     
         21 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the ozone generator maintains the chamber ozone concentration from approximately 0.05 ppm to 0.1 ppm. 
     
     
         22 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein the ozone generator maintains the chamber ozone concentration from approximately 0.075 ppm to 0.095 ppm. 
     
     
         23 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein chamber relative humidity is maintained from approximately 80% to 100%. 
     
     
         24 . The produce chamber of  claim 13 , wherein chamber ethylene concentration is maintained at less than 0.015 ppm. 
     
     
         25 . A method of reducing postharvest produce deterioration comprising the steps of:
 encasing the produce within an interior of a portable produce chamber;   separating a cooling system from the interior of the produce chamber with an isolation plate;   cooling the interior of the produce chamber to a temperature from about 10° C. to 20° C.;   introducing gaseous ozone into the interior of a chamber to maintain a chamber ozone concentration between about 0.05 ppm and 0.15 ppm; and   maintaining a relative humidity within the interior of the chamber ranging from about 80% to 100% relative humidity.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of scrubbing ethylene from the chamber. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein potassium permanganate is introduced into the chamber for the purpose of ethylene scrubbing. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein a titanium oxide photocatalyst is used to scrub ethylene from the chamber. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the ozone is generated by an ozone generator in communication with the chamber. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of placing the chamber on a counter top surface. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of stacking the chamber on a second produce chamber. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the chamber temperature is maintained from 12° C. to 14° C. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the chamber ozone concentration is maintained from 0.075 ppm to 0.095 ppm. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the chamber relative humidity is maintained from 80% to 100%. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein ethylene concentration in the chamber is maintained at less than 0.015 ppm. 
     
     
         36 . A method of reducing postharvest produce deterioration comprising the steps of:
 encasing produce within a portable, stackable, counter top, produce chamber comprising a cooling system, ozone generator, and ethylene scrubber;   separating the cooling system from the produce chamber using an isolation plate;   maintaining the chamber at a temperature from about 10° C. to 20° C.;   introducing gaseous ozone into the chamber to maintain a chamber ozone concentration between about 0.05 ppm and 0.1 ppm;   maintaining a relative humidity within the chamber ranging from about 70% to 100% relative humidity;   scrubbing ethylene from the chamber with at least one potassium permanganate sachet; and   maintaining the chamber ethylene concentration at a level less than about 0.015 ppm.

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